Technology roadmapping for SMEs: a proposal and an action research in the Trieste coffee cluster

Innovation requires an interdisciplinary approach, knowledge processing, diversity and openness to collaboration that in general SMEs struggle to access. SMEs are disadvantaged because they experience cultural, knowledge, capabilities and financial access barriers. For their strategic and innovation activities, SMEs need to access to selected knowledge focused and connected to their technology, product, market and resources. For SMEs, the problem is that they lack specific and tailored technology-intelligence and foresight (TIF) systems that are normally thought and fitted for big large companies. The paper contributes to enriching the research field of foresight and technology management, proposing a methodology to implement technological roadmapping tailored for SMEs. The research strategy is an action research in a S&T park, Area Science Park.